title: [Chromametry, a promising technique for the quantification of skin changes in chronic venous disorders].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The development and validation of new clinimetric tools is essential for the progress of clinical research in the field of chronic venous insufficiency. Chromametry is a simple, quick and non-invasive technique that measures the color of the skin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of this technique to quantify skin pigmentation as a marker of severity of chronic venous disease and to assess the variability of measurements obtained in this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chomametry was performed on three different sites on each lower limb in 42 patients undergoing a spa treatment in La Léchère (Savoie) for chronic venous disorders (CVD). Four series of measurements were taken by two investigators for each patient, at two sessions two to four days apart.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The chromameter readily measured the pigmentation index (PI). The PI increased with higher clinical class (CEAP classification) for measurements made at the malleolar level (r=0.48; P<0.001) and the supra-malleolar area (r=0.55; P<0.001), but not at the level of the anterior tibial tuberosity (r=-0.09; P=0.45). The repeatability and the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of this PI index were 15%, 18% and 21% respectively of the mean of the observed difference at the malleolar level. The chromameter also provided an erythema index, which appears to be less relevant and more variable than the PI, but which might add potentially useful information regarding the characterization of skin inflammation related to the venous disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that chromametry can be used in clinical research studies to quantify skin changes associated with CVD. Whether it can also be useful for early detection and follow-up of patients with venous trophic changes remains to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche universitaire de La Léchère, université Joseph-Fourier, 73260 La Léchère, France. pcarpentier@chu-grenoble.fr
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Carpentier
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Satger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poensin
authors.forename: L-F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Carpentier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003116:Color; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Chromametry; Chromamétrie; Chronic venous disorders; Clinimetry; Clinimétrie; Couleur cutanée; Insuffisance veineuse chronique; Skin color; Venous insufficiency